Re: [Linuxconsole-dev] Re: Localization of Linux

[Tony N. <to...@gr...>]

On Fri Mar 10 2000 at 09:54, James Simmons wrote:

> > Wow!  This is a scoop!  :)   [I'm only tuned into linux-console@vger]
> 
> Their is a linux-console mailing list at vger. Never knew that. I don't
> think many people do.

It's been quiet for a long time.  Every now and then some spam slips
through and I notice something in that folder.  (BTW, apologies for
the bounce you would have got with the bad
"lin...@vg..." address I had in my mail - it should
be "rutgers").  vger is using majordomo, so it can be subscribed to in
the usual way...

echo -e "subscribe linux-console\n.\n" | mail -s subscribe maj...@vg...

> > When did this start to happen?
> 
> About a week ago.

Great, then I (we) haven't missed out on _too_ much :)

> > What changes are planned?

[ ... lots of cool ideas, plans, wishes and stuff ... ]

> > I'd eventually like to be able to set/reset on a per-console basis
> > whatever video modes I like,
> 
> Okay. Fbcon allows that to a limited degree.

Really?  Any idea how to do that?  It's easy enough to get the fb
working in some nice modes with a vesa-compliant chipset or a card
which has its fb driver loaded, but I never really understood how to
use the fbset command or its /etc/fb.modes file, or the /dev/fb*
devices.  And I had no idea that you could already set the fb into
different modes on different consoles.

Using the fb modes was oh-wow for a while to amaze people with a tux
or two at bootup, but in the end I have found it too much of a hassle
to worry about any more.

If the X driver or some svgalib application dropped out without
resetting the fb mode correctly, then the local ttys became "lost" and
unviewable.  (Any way out of this?)  svgalib is particular nasty to
use with the console fb.  I have been particular vulnerable to this
since I've been using banshee and voodoo3 cards for quite a while and
their drivers are vastly improving and still not 100% stable.  I've
also been meaning to have a good look at ggi, but too much to do and
so little time...

Anyway good luck with this project, it sounds very worthwhile.

Cheers
Tony